HOW TO PRAY IN A CRISIS
Seeking God for a Breakthrough – Part 2
DANIEL 9:1-23:
3. EXPRESS MY DESIRES WITH EMOTION
“And I began pleading with God earnestly in prayer…” Daniel 9:3b
“I poured out my heart, baring my soul to God.” Daniel 9:3b (MSG)
“Then my people will join together in tears to seek the Lord. And they will ask the way to Jerusalem, and they will start back home again.” Jeremiah 50:4-5a
4. DEMONSTRATE MY SERIOUSNESS WITH FASTING
“And I started fasting and went without food. To show my sadness I put on rough clothes and sat in ashes.” Daniel 9:3c
WHY FAST?
It demonstrates my discipline and seriousness about my request.
5. THANK GOD FOR HIS LOVE & PROMISES
“Then I said ‘Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your promises of constant love to those who love you and keep your commands.’” Daniel 9:4
“Even though we have rebelled against you, you Lord are merciful and forgiving.” Daniel 9:9
6. HUMBLY CONFESS MY SINS
“We have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and ignored your commands and rejected your laws! We have refused to listen to your servants, the prophets, who spoke your messages to our kings and leaders and parents, and to everyone else in our nation.” Daniel 9:5-6
“We have brought disgrace and shame on ourselves… because we’ve been unfaithful to you. This is true of all of us, including our kings, leaders, and parents.” Daniel 9:7-8
“We paid no attention to you when you told us how to live, the clear teaching that came through your prophets.” Daniel 9:10 (MSG)
“… We kept on sinning, never giving you a second thought, oblivious to your clear warnings. So you had no choice but to let disaster loose on us… since we persistently and defiantly ignored you.” Daniel 9:13-14 (MSG)
“… now, all the other nations mock us.” Daniel 9:16b
“O God, listen to me and hear my request… We do not ask because we deserve help, but because you are so merciful.” Daniel 9:18 (NLT; TLB)
GOD’S RESPONSE TO DANIEL
“While I kept on praying and confessing my sin and the sins of my people, and pleading with the Lord, suddenly the angel Gabriel appeared in my vision and said ‘Daniel, I’ve been sent to help you understand God‘s plan. The moment you began praying, an answer was given, and I’m here to tell it to you, for God loves you very much.” Daniel 9:20-23
GOD’S PROMISE TO HIS PEOPLE
“If my people, which are called by my name, will HUMBLE themselves, and PRAY, and SEEK my face, and TURN from their wicked ways; then I will HEAR from heaven, and will FORGIVE their sin, and will HEAL their land!” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)